Center, Internet, Wildlife Damage Management
Human–Wildlife Interactions
Euthanasia Methods in Field Settings for Wildlife Damage Management
Date of this Version
Fall 2010
Document Type
Article
Citation
Human–Wildlife Interactions (Fall 2010) 4(2): article 3
doi: 10.26077/kwg7-0214
Abstract
For many in the field of wildlife damage management, the 2007 American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) guidelines constitute the standard protocol for euthanasia of animals. Euthanasia means “good death.” In theory, euthanasia occurs when an animal experiences rapid unconsciousness followed by cardiac or respiratory arrest, leading to loss of brain function with minimized stress and discomfort prior to the animal becoming unconscious.
. . .
Our results indicate that each method of euthanasia that we evaluated has advantages and disadvantages. All methods of euthanasia should be preformed discretely and only by properly trained personnel. We suggest advocation of regulations that provide licensed or properly trained nuisance wildlife control officers (NWCOs) easier access to barbituric acids. Wildlife professionals are obligated to consider animal welfare in activities they endorse and oversee. We suggest that NWCOs use this guide along with local laws, regulations, and their professional judgment to determine the best method of euthanasia in each situation.